Cylindrical switch for ignition and starting of engines and other uses

ABSTRACT

This arrangement relates to a locking device such as a cylindrical switch for ignition and starting of an engine and other like uses. The switch has an insulated, hollow cylindrical stator with a plurality of contact blades mounted on the inner surface parallel with the cylinder axis and connected to ignition and starting means and other accessories. A rotor is positioned in the hollow stator and comprises an insulated cylinder carrying a conductive plate having a shape formed in steps to ensure contact with the blades. An insulated driving element, controlled by the locking device, is assembled by resilient fitting means to the rotor. A cam on the driving element engages with the blades to selectively break the connections.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Paul Lipschultz Croissy-sur-Seine, France [21] Appl. No. 835,377 [22] Filed June 23, 1969 [45] Patented Sept. 28, 1971 [73] Assignee Societe DExploitation Des Brevets Neiman S. A. Neuilly-sur-Seine, (Hauts de Seine), France [32] Priority July 15, 1968 [3 3] France [31] 159209 [54] CYLINDRICAL SWITCH FOR IGNITION AND STARTING 0F ENGINES AND OTHER USES 5 Claims, 8 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 200/44, 200/ 168 B [51] Int. Cl H0111 27/06 [50] Field of Search 200/42, 44, 168 C, 168 B [5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,715,661 8/1955 Miller ZOO/44 X 2,868,906 1/1959 Sorens 200/44 Primary Examiner-H. 0. Jones Attorney-Stevens, Davis, Miller & Mosher ABSTRACT: This arrangement relates to a locking device such as a cylindrical switch for ignition and starting of an engine and other like uses. The switch has an insulated, hollow cylindrical stator with a plurality of contact blades mounted on the inner surface parallel with the cylinder axis and connected to ignition and starting means and other accessories. A rotor is positioned in the hollow stator and comprises an insulated cylinder carrying a conductive plate having a shape formed in steps to ensure contact with the blades. An insulated driving element, controlled by the locking device, is assembled by resilient fitting means to the rotor. A cam on the driving element engages with the blades to selectively break the connections.

PATENTEU 8EP28 lsn 3,509,250

CYLINDRICAL SWITCH FOR IGNITION AND STARTING OF ENGINES AND OTHER USES The present invention relates to a cylinder-type switch for all uses and more particularly for contacts and key antitheft devices for automotive vehicles, that is to say everywhere where it is necessary to ensure the passage of high intensity in a small bulk, and where the reliability conditions are especially hard.

The object of the present invention is to provide, singly or in combination with an antitheft device for locking a major element of the automotive vehicle, a contactor for energizing different means and accessories of said vehicle, having a fixed stator and a movable rotor, wherein said stator comprises a hollow insulated cylinder and connection blades carried on the inside of said cylinder and connected to said means and accessories, said rotor comprises an insulated cylinder, a conductive plate carried by said cylinder at its periphery and having a shape which is cut out in steps in conformity with the number and the duration of desired contacts in order to ensure with said blades resilient electrical connections, and an insulated driving element having an eventual cam shape and means for fixing to said rotor cylinder.

The switch according to this invention can be particularly combined with a security device such as described in applicant's French Pat. No. I,380,599 of Oct. 14, I963, or with other devices of similar feature.

The various features of the invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description of a typical preferred embodiment of the invention applied to switches for antitheft devices, throughout which description reference is made to the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 represents the switch in an end view, the fixed stator being in a partial cross section as indicated by the line 1-1 of FIG. 2, and the rotor being in position of contact breaking;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the switch, the stator being in longitudinal section as indicated by the line 2-2 of FIG, 1;

FIG. 3 represents the rotor alone, in partial longitudinal section, showing details of assembly and construction;

FIGS. 4 to 8 show schematically the conductive plate of the rotor, in five possible positions thereof, with its conductive parts opposite to fixed blades of the stator which are assumed to be in the same plane.

The switch of the invention, called cylinder type, is composed of a stator 4 of insulating material forming a hollow cylinder, and of a rotor constituted of a cylinder 1 associated to a driving element 3, both likewise of insulating material. This rotor can occupy in the interior of the stator with five positions being obtainable equally by rotation of the cylinder 1 to the left and to the right.

Inside the insulating stator 4, there are fixed at one of their ends, according to need, several blades such as the blade 5 shown in FIG. 2. For example, the number of shown blades is of four, but without any restriction. The fixing is effected by fitting together, or by any other system of mechanical fixing 6 such as screw, grooved nail, bolt, rivet, etc. The blades can also be inset in the molding of the stator. Each blade is connected by an electric connection, not shown, to means or apparatus of the vehicle.

The rotor carries, on its outer peripheral surface, a conductive plate 2, the profile of which is cut as shown, in FIGS. 4 to 8, in conformity with the number and at the same time the duration of the desired contacts, according to the position of the cylinder in rotation.

The assembling of cylinder I and of the driving element 3 is effected by a method of elastic fitting together as shown in FIG. 3. A double frustoconical or spherical head 13 on the end of the element 3, is split at 14; the pressure exerted on introduction of the upper drive element 11, causes the spherical head 13 to retract in its passage through the opening 15; it then resumes its form and in this way ensures the assembling of the two elements 1 and 3.

The drive of the rotor is effected by a hollowed cross 11, or any other symmetric or asymmetric hollowed form, in which engages a drive dog, not shown, forming part of the antitheft device which controls the control bolt or knob of the contac- 101'.

In order to ensure a sudden interruption of the current, an insulating cam 10, forming part of the rotor driving element 3 raises one of the elastic blades 5 of the stator 4, at the moment of breaking of contact; in this way the arc is diminished and the conductive and insulating parts are better protected, these being in danger of being burned in time by the breaking spark. Moreover an insert 12 of hard and conductive material is provided on the insulated cylinder 1 in the region where the circuit breaking takes place, in order to resist erosion due to the sparks.

However in certain cases the cam 10 is not essential, the break then takes place by sliding.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 to 8, the different positions of operation of the rotor are examined in the selected example, taking as reference the five possible positions of the barrel and of the rotor of an antitheft device actuating the contactor.

In the STOP position of FIG. 4, a first resilient blade 7, connected to the vehicle accessories, is above a cutout part of the conductive plate 2. The next blade marked t; and supplying the current from the vehicle battery, is still out of contact with the plate 2. There is no electrical connection with the apparatus or means.

In the next position ACCESSORIES of the rotor, as shown in FIG. 5, the two blades 7 and +are in contact with the conductive plate 2 and so in electric connection through this plate; the accessories are then energized.

In the third position GARAGE" of FIG. 6, the blade 7 is still situated on the conductive plate 2, but the current supply blade is raised by the cam 10 of the element 3 and is no longer in contact with the conductive plate 2. The next blade 8 connected to the ignitor coil, is still out ofcontact with plate 2. No electric connection is possible.

In the fourth position DRIVE of FIG. 7, the three blades 7, and 8 are in contact with the conductive plate 2 of the cylinder; the current is supplied through the blades 7, 8 connected respectively to the accessories and to the ignitor coil.

In the fifth position STARTER of the FIG. 8, the last blade 9 connected to the starter of the vehicle, and also the blade and 8 are in contact with the conductive plate 2, supplying the starter and maintaining the supply of the ignition coil, while the blade 7 has left the conductive plate 2 and the accessories are no longer energized.

In this last position, the rotor can be made dependent upon a spring not shown, which returns it into the drive" position, so as not to prolong the effort of the starter.

What I claim is:

I. A control switch for ignition and starting of a motor vehicle engine, and other uses more particularly for energizing different means and accessories of an automotive vehicle in combination with antitheft locking devices, said switch comprising a fixed insulated stator having a hollow cylindrical form, a plurality of contacts formed by resilient blades mounted within one end of said hollow stator and extending along the inner surface thereof parallel to the longitudinal axis of the stator, an insulated cylindrical rotor rotatably mounted in said stator, a conductive plate formed on the outer peripheral surface of the rotor and having a stepped configuration for selectively making contact with said contact blades, the length of each step being determined by the desired duration of the contact between said plate and said contact blade, means to rotatably drive said rotor having a cam portion for breaking contact between said contact blades and said plate, and means on said rotor driving means holding it in an assembled condition in said rotor.

2. A control switch according to claim 1 wherein each of said contact blades has means on its free end to be contacted by said cam of the rotor driving means and produce a quickbreak of the contact between said contact blades and said plate.

which said head passes and an enlarged recess at one end of said bore in which said enlarged head engages.

5. A control switch according to claim 4 wherein said driving means is provided with a central recess to be engaged by a driving dog solid with an operating knob of an antitheft locking device means. 

1. A control switch for ignition and starting of a motor vehicle engine, and other uses more particularly for energizing different means and accessories of an automotive vehicle in combination with antitheft locking devices, said switch comprising a fixed insulated stator having a hollow cylindrical form, a plurality of contacts formed by resilient blades mounted within one end of said hollow stator and extending along the inner surface thereof parallel to the longitudinal axis of the stator, an insulated cylindrical rotor rotatably mounted in said stator, a conductive plate formed on the outer peripheral surface of the rotor and having a stepped configuration for selectively making contact with said contact blades, the length of each step being determined by the desired duration of the contact between said plate and said contact blade, means to rotatably drive said rotor having a cam portion for breaking contact between said contact blades and said plate, and means on said rotor driving means holding it in an assembled condition in said rotor.
 2. A control switch according to claim 1 wherein each of said contact blades has means on its free end to be contacted by said cam of the rotor driving means and produce a quickbreak of the contact between said contact blades and said plate.
 3. A control switch according to claim 2 further comprising an insert of hard conductive material provided on said rotor in a region of contact breaking.
 4. A control switch according to claim 1, wherein said means on said rotor driving means for holding it in an assembled condition with said rotor comprises a split spindle rigid at one end with an end of said driving means and having an enlarged split head, said rotor having an axial bore through which said head passes and an enlarged recess at one end of said bore in which said enlarged head engages.
 5. A control switch according to claim 4 wherein said driving means is provided with a central recess to be engaged by a driving dog solid with an operating knob of an antitheft locking device means. 